LAKEPORT — The Lake County Board of Supervisors (BOS) voted to deny an appeal of the final environmental impact report (EIR) for the Bottle Rock Power geothermal expansion project.
The BOS also voted to rezone 60 acres of the Binkley Family Trust property for use in the Bottle Rock geothermal project.
Bottle Rock Power has leased parts of the Binkley family property because of the potential for geothermal energy beneath the surface of the property.
The appeal was filed by the Friends of Cobb Mountain, a group of concerned citizens.
District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington had asked the board at the March 1 BOS meeting to allow him time to schedule a meeting with PG&E, Bottle Rock Power”s general manager Brian Harms and himself to go over some project details. Farrington said it took two weeks to schedule a meeting for Monday, which he ultimately canceled, calling it a waste of time.
A major area of concern for the BOS before voting was a worst case scenario.
District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing mentioned the Japanese nuclear power plant damaged by last week”s earthquake as an example for wanting to know what a worst case scenario could be for the geothermal power plant.
Community Development Director Rick Coel said a fuel or chemical leak and possibly surface water contamination could occur if a major earthquake were to strike and affect the area.
Harms said that ground water contamination would be a highly unlikely occurrence.
Some people gathered in the audience wanted to address the worst case scenario in public comment, but Board Chairman Jim Comstock reminded the crowd public testimony on this issue had been wrapped up in a previous meeting.
District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown said the issue was controversial but county staff was convinced the report covered all scenarios. He offered a motion to deny the appeal, which was approved 4-1, with Rushing in dissent.
The rezoning of 60 acres for further expansion of Bottle Rock Power facilities was also passed 4-1, with Rushing again in dissent.
Citizens voiced concerns about the proximity of the expansion interfering with homes in the area, as well as the impact the expansion may have on the environment, during the rezone public hearing.
Other issues covered during the BOS meeting included a 3-2 passage of the relocation of the Mental Health Department from Lakeport to Lucerne. A report was given by Water Resources Director Scott De Leon on the levee located near Upper Lake that was in jeopardy of failing on Monday. A presentation of employee service awards to county employees also occurred.
Look for in-depth accounts of issues covered at the BOS meeting in Thursday”s edition of the Record-Bee.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14.
